Things To Do

Niagara Parkway

The Niagara Parkway is a popular route for people travelling along the Canadian side of the Niagara River. Located in the province of Ontario, the road offers picturesque delights along a wide expanse from the town of Fort Erie to the breath-taking Niagara Falls, all the way up to Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Along the way, it connects various locations and is dotted with several attractions. The highlight of the route is the area around the actual Niagara Falls and the Table Rock Welcome Centre.

Niagara Parkway History

Originally, the route was an aboriginal trail and down the years it became the primary road connecting Fort Erie and Fort George. In 1908, the Niagara Parks Commission started work on developing a proper route along the river. A paved parkway was completed in segments one after the other, finally culminating in 1931 to the parkway as seen today.

Visitors can choose to explore the Niagara Parkway by biking or driving along the route. While the Niagara River in itself is a soothing sight along the route, attractions like the Brock’s Monument at Queenston, the Niagara Floral Clock, Butterfly Conservatory, Whirlpool Rapids, Legends on the Niagara Golf Course and the Willoughby Historical Museum are popular with visitors. In addition to this there are pretty houses, restaurants, wineries, gardens, lawns and picnic tables along the way. Of course, the icing on the cake is the actual area of the Niagara Falls from where the Horseshoe Falls can be seen.

The Centre of the Niagara Parkway

The Niagara Falls area is the site of the Table Rock Welcome Centre which consists of two buildings. People can visit the multi-level indoor observation complex for an amazing view of the falls. There’s also an outdoor observation plaza. At the Journey Behind the Falls attraction, visitors travel through tunnels behind the falls to see and experience the spray of the Horseshoe Falls. There are Upper and Lower Observation Decks situated at the foot of the falls for this amazing experience. Another great attraction is Niagara’s Fury where visitors can understand the story behind the falls and experience the actual force of nature through a simulated display. Surrounded by spectacular visuals and sounds, people experience a drop in temperature, water sprays and snowfall while the platform shakes beneath their feet. Shopping at Table Rock offers a variety of retail experiences while the food courts have a wide array of treats for visitors who wish to snack.

Niagara Parkway – a National Treasure

The view of the falls attracts millions of visitors to the Table Rock Welcome Centre. This view can be seen around the year and at any time of the day. Most of the shops are open around the year except for Christmas while some services are not available during the winter.

Former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill described the Niagara Parkway route as “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world”. The parkway is a delightful route to travel around the year with blossoms during spring and summer and the illuminations during the Winter Festival of Lights.